Morocco has become the first African country to produce mpox testing kits, a major step in reducing the continent’s reliance on imported medical supplies.
The initiative follows challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when African nations struggled to secure adequate testing kits.
Moroccan biotech startup Moldiag began working on mpox tests after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the virus a global emergency in August.
With over 59,000 mpox cases and 1,164 deaths reported across 20 African countries this year, the need for efficient diagnostic tools is critical.
The WHO has announced plans to distribute mpox tests, vaccines, and treatments to vulnerable populations in poorer countries, though it has faced criticism for delays in rolling out vaccines.
Testing remains a cornerstone of the organisation’s recommendations to control the outbreak.
However, many parts of Africa still face logistical challenges. For instance, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), only a few of the country’s 26 provinces have laboratories equipped to process mpox tests.
In remote regions, such as South Kivu province, healthcare providers rely on physical symptoms and temperature checks to diagnose cases, making it difficult to accurately monitor the virus’s spread.
Morocco’s advancement in producing local testing kits highlights a critical shift towards medical self-sufficiency for the continent.
This progress aligns with Africa’s broader goal to strengthen its healthcare systems and reduce dependency on external suppliers.
